Folding stool



y 1961 N. MICHAELIAN 2,991,041

FOLDING STOOL Filed July 17, 1959 c 1 'L \r 7.4-

14- &

INVENTOR.

'06735id6/200 5 I2 9 BY U ted States Patent A Patented July 4, 1961 2,991,041 FOLDING STOOL Nick Michaehan, 548 S. Ger-hart Ave., Los Angeles,

Filed July 17, 1959, Ser. No. 827,821 3 Claims. (Cl. 248-432) This invention relates to collapsible seats, and more particularly to a stool which is foldable to a compact package for transportation or storage. 7

The main object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved folding stool which is simple in construction, which is easy to set up for use, and which may be readily folded to a very compact and convenient package so that it may be easily transported or stored.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved collapsible stool which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which is durable in construction, and which may be quickly and easily set up for use without requiring the employment of any tools.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of an improved stool according to the present invention, shownset up for use. I

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the stool illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal horizontal cross sectional view taken through the two cooperating frame sections of the stool of FIGURES 1 and 2 with the leg elements thereof retracted and nested in the channel shaped side frame members and with said side frame members disposed in opposing positions preparatory to wrapping the flexible sheet portion of the stool on the opposing members.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the marginal portion of a flexible sheet member employed in the folding stool of FIGURES 1 and 2.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse vertical cross sectional view taken through the folded stool in its completely wrapped condition.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken through anend portion of one of the channel shaped side frame members and taken longitudinally through the associated leg elements, shovn'ng the exte'n'sionrod thereof in its retracted position and the pivot bolt associated with the legs threadedly engaged in the end of the extension rod.

FIGURE 7 is an-enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view, similar to-=FIGURE 6, but showing the manner in Calif.

which-the-pivot'bolt-is engaged through the crossing leg I elements associated with one side of the stool and illustrating the manner in which the extension rods are secured in their extended positions.

Referring to the drawings, the folding stool is designated generally at 11 and comprises a pair of channelshaped side frame members 12, 12 of identical construction, the channel-shaped members being provided with the respective end walls 13 and 14. As shown in FIG- URE 3, the transversely extending end walls 13 and 14 are arranged substantially perpendicular to the generally arcuately curved longitudinal walls of the channel-shaped members 12.

The channel-shaped members 12 are provided with the spaced outwardly projecting pin elements 15 on their outer sides, as shown in FIGURE 1, said pin elements 15 being engageable in respective slots 16 provided on the side margins of a flexible sheet member 17, such as canvas or the like, employed as the flexible seat portion of the stool. The slots 16 are preferably suitably reinforced, as by elongated grommets or the like. The canvas sheet member 17 is similarly suitably reinforced at its side margins, as by the provision of extra thickness by formin'g hems 18- at said side marginal portions.

Hinged to the edges of .respective'end walls 13 and 14 of the side frame members are respective tubular leg members 19 and 20, said tubular leg members being provided at their hinged ends with respective flanges 21 and 22 which are of different lengths, so that the tubular leg members 19 and 20 may be nestingly received at times inside the associated side frame members 12 in overlapping relationship, as shown in FIGURE 3. Thus, the flange 21 is relatively long and the flange 22 is relatively short, the length of the flanges being such that the legs 19 and 20 may be received in parallel adjacent positions parallel to the longitudinal wall of the associated side frame member 12, as clearly illustrated in FIG- URE 3. v

Telescopically engaged in each of the tubular leg members 19 and 20 is an extension rod 24 which is formed with a locking recess 25 engageable by a locking pin 26 carried by a leaf spring 27 secured to the outside surface of the associated tubular leg member, the locking pin 26 extending through an aperture provided therefor inthe leg member and being engageable in the locking recess 25 of the associated extension rod 24 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 6, whereby the extension rod may be locked in its retracted position when the stool is to be folded up for transportation or storage.

The ends of the extension rod 24 are provided with tapped bores adapted to receive the pivot bolts 28 associated with-the stool to serve as storage means for said pivot bolts when the stool is folded up. The bolts 28 may be easily removed by unscrewing them from the tapped bores 29 provided therefor in the ends of the extension rod 24. I

The tubular legs 19 and 20 are formed at their lower portions with apertures 30 which are registrable when the legs are crossed in the manner illustrated in FIG- URES l and 2, and the extension rods 24 are-likewise formed with apertures 31 in their top portions which are registra-ble with the apertures 30 of the tubular legs when the rods are extended, as shown in FIGURE 7, so that a common pivot bolt 28 may be engaged through the registering apertures and threadedly engaged with a nut 32 Welded to the inside surface of the inner leg 19, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 7. A suitable bearing washer 33 may be interposed between the crossing legs, as shown in FIGURE 7, to facilitate easy pivoting action of the legs.

The extension rods 24 are preferably provided at their outer ends with suitable outwardly extending projections I or prongs 34 disposed at the corners of the extensions so that they will engage in the ground to anchor the stool when the stool is set up for use, as illustrated in .bolts 28 are then employed to lock the crossing legs and the extension rods 24 in their operative positions, the pivot bolts 28 being engaged in the nuts 32 rigidly secured to the inside surfaces of the inner legs, as above mentioned. When the legs are in crossed positions, as shown in FIGURE 1, the hinge axes of their associated flanges 21, 22 are in the same plane but are at substantial angles to each other. Therefore, the fastening bolts 28 hold the crossed legs so that they cannot fold inwardly on said hinge axes. The legs can only be folded inwardly on said hinge axes when they are uncrossed, namely, are detached from each other.

When the stool is to be collapsed and folded for transportation or storage, the bolts 28 are disengaged from the fixed nuts 32 and are returned to the tapped bores 29. The extension rods 24 are retracted into the legs 19 and 20 and are locked in retracted positions by engagingthe pins, 26 in the recesses 25. .The legs, being then free to rotate on their hinge axes, are then swung into their associated channel-shaped frame members 12 in overlapping positions, as shown in FIGURE 3, and the channel-shaped frame members are then disposed in opposing relationship, as illustrated in 'FIGURE 3. .The sheet member 17 is then engaged with the pins 15 of one of the channel-shaped members and is wrapped around the opposing channel-shaped members to provide the wrapped package illustrated in cross section in FIG- URE 5. The final package is thus of minimum bulk and may be readily transported or stored.

While a specific embodiment of an improved folding stool has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

' 1. A folding stool comprising a pair of channel-shaped side frame members having transverse end walls extending perpendicularto their longitudinal walls, a flexible sheet member, means to detachably secure opposite marginal end portions of said sheet member to the respective side frame members, respective leg members, flanges on the ends of said leg members hingedly con-. nected to the end walls of said side frame members on axes transverse to said side frame members and being sufficiently different in length so that the leg members can be at times nestingly received in said side frame members in overlapping relationship, and means to at times detachably connect the opposing respective leg members at the opposite ends of the side frame members in pivotal crossing relationship so that the hinge axes of the flanges at said opposite ends are at substantial angles to each other and so that the leg members cannot rotate relative to said side frame members.

2. A folding stool comprising a pair of channel-shaped side frame members having transverse end walls extending perpendicular to their longitudinal walls, a flexible sheet member, means to detachably secure opposite marginal end portions of said sheet member to the respective side frame members, respective hollow tubular leg members, flanges on the ends of said leg members hingedly connected to the end portions of said side frame members on axes transverse to said side frame members and being sufliciently different in length so that the leg members can be at times nestingly received in said side frame members in overlapping relationship, respective extension rods telescopically received in said leg members, means to releasably lock said extension rods in selected outwardly extended positions with respect to said leg members, and means to at times detachably connect the opposing respective leg members at the opposite ends of the side frame members in pivotal crossing relationship so that the hinge axes of the flanges at said opposite ends are at substantial angles to each other'and so that the leg members cannot rotate relative to said side frame 'mem;

bers.

3. A folding stool comprising a pair of channel-shaped side frame members having transverse end walls extending perpendicular to their longitudinal walls, a flexible sheet member, a plurality of laterally projecting spaced pin elements on the outer side surfaces of the side frame members, the opposite marginal end portions of said sheet members being formed with apertures spaced to receive said pin elements, whereby to detachably secure said opposite marginal end portions of said sheet member to the respective side frame members, respective hollow tubular leg members, flanges on the ends of said leg members hingedly connected to the end portions of said side frame members on respective axis transverse to said side frame members, the flanges being different in length sufliciently so that said leg members are nest ingly receivable in said side frame members in overlapping parallel, longitudinal relationship, respective extension rods telescopically received in said leg members, said extension rods being extensible to selected outwardly projecting positions relative to said leg members, and means to at times detachably connect the opposing respective leg members at the opposite ends of the side frame members in pivotal crossing relationship so that the hinge axes of the flanges at said opposite ends are at substantial angles to each other and so that the leg members cannot rotate relative to said side frame members and to simultaneously lock said extension rods in said outwardly projecting positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 52,412 Herbert Feb. 6, 1866 405,117 Purdy et a1. June 11, 1889 659,508 Collins Oct. 9, 1900 875,195 Loftin Dec. 31, 1907 1,202,660 Breault Oct.24, 1916 1,396,593 Richards Nov. 8, 1921 1,576,635 Douglas Mar. 16, 1926' 1,646,922 Mackinnon Oct. 25, 1927. 1,821,259 Davis et al Sept. 1, 1931 2,843,185 Clem et al July 15, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 221,439 Germany Apr. 29, 1910 r 120,804 Austria Jan. 10, 1931- 796,705 France Ian. 27, 1936 

